Bayview Hate Crime Suspect Arrested; Citywide Hate Crime Hotline Launches

Bayview Hate Crime Suspect Arrested; Citywide Hate Crime Hotline LaunchesPhoto: Shutterstock
Brittany Hopkins
Published on November 19, 2016

The SFPD has arrested a San Francisco resident on suspicion of painting a racist epithet on a Bayview business.

According to the department, the business—located on the 1400 block of Egbert Street—was vandalized at 4:15pm Thursday, November 17th. Witnesses saw the suspect paint a racist symbol on one of the business' exterior walls, then spray gold paint on the hood of a parked Toyota pickup truck.

The suspect, identified as 33-year-old David Chacon, was later taken into custody and charged with felony vandalism with a hate crime enhancement.

While fears of an increase in hate crimes have heightened nation-wide since the election, SFPD officials told the press yesterday that reports of hate crimes here in San Francisco have not increased following the election, the Chronicle reportsHowever, hate crime reports are up more than 10 percent compared to last year.

And District Attorney George George Gascón—who gathered officials from the mayor's office, Human Rights Commission and SFPD yesterday to announce the return of the city's hate crime hotline—said that fears are warranted, KCBS also reported.

The hate crime hotline, run by the district attorney's office, can now be reached at 415-551-9595. According to the Chronicle, hate crimes can also be reported by calling the SFPD at 415-575-4444 or texting TIP411 with “SFPD” at the start of the message. And the Human Rights Commission can be reached at 415-252-2500.